Truck drivers who bring a dog or cat on the road have a new safety resource designed specifically with commercial truck travel in mind.
Volvo Trucks North America and the nonprofit Center for Pet Safety have released a free Safe Travels With Your Pet guide covering restraints, emergency preparation, temperature concerns, and other situations drivers can encounter while traveling with a pet.
An estimated 800,000 pets travel in commercial trucks across the United States, according to Volvo. The company also reports that more than 60% of commercial truck drivers own a pet, with nearly 40% of those drivers bringing their pet on the road.
Restraints Are a Major Focus
One of the guide’s primary recommendations is keeping pets properly restrained whenever the truck is moving.
Rather than relying on a product simply marketed for vehicle use, the guide addresses selecting and properly using crash-tested harnesses and carriers. The Center for Pet Safety independently tests and certifies harnesses, carriers, and travel crates against its safety standards.
The guide also covers where restraints should be positioned and how drivers can set up the cab to reduce risks from sudden braking or a crash.
Preparing for Weather and Emergencies
Pet safety away from home involves more than securing an animal while the truck is moving. The new resource includes information about hot and cold weather, overnight stops, and preparing for unexpected situations.
Drivers can also find recommendations for assembling a pet first-aid kit, planning for emergencies, and handling hotel stays. Seasonal considerations are included for drivers traveling through changing climates during a run.
The complete Safe Travels With Your Pet guide is available to download for free.
Volvo VNL Put Through Pet Safety Evaluation
The guide follows an evaluation conducted by Volvo and the Center for Pet Safety at the Volvo Customer Center in Dublin, Virginia, in December 2025.
During the evaluation, Center for Pet Safety experts examined the Volvo VNL’s interior layout, restraint options, strength-tested anchor points, and climate-control features. Dogs secured with approved harnesses and carriers were also taken onto the facility’s test track so the organization could observe the setups under actual driving conditions.
The evaluation found that the VNL’s strength-tested anchor points are compatible with Center for Pet Safety Certified harnesses and carriers.
The work continued into 2026 with the development of the new digital guide, extending the project beyond one truck model and providing pet travel information that drivers can use regardless of the truck they operate.
The TDUSA editorial team creates practical, driver-focused content covering trucking news, industry updates, safety, regulations, and career information for professional truck drivers across the United States. Each article is built to reflect real-world experience, industry developments, and information drivers can use on and off the road.
Last Updated: September 15, 2026
Source: Truckers News
Source: Volvo Trucks North America
